Loverocks Festival 2026 Day 2

Published June 19, 2026 · Updated June 26, 2026

St Leonards Farm, Ferndown, Dorset

Featuring: Robert Jon & The Wreck, Trucker Diablo, Sisters Doll, Jack J Hutchinson, Puzzle Tree, Silver Roller, Cry For Mercy, Greyfox Conspiracy & In Search Of Sun

It’s Friday morning at 11:30am and time for the first band, appropriately titled In Search of the Sun. They are a new band to me and one of the many fresh acts Jim Love and his Scouts have brought to St Leonards Farm Campsite this weekend.

In Search of Sun 1–2–3–4–5

Despite the 25-degree heat, the five-piece London outfit were full of energy and looked as though they’d all had three Weetabix for breakfast. The twin guitars blended melodically to create a cohesive sound, while the rhythm section laid down an irresistible groove. Songs such as Contagious and The Fire I Play With showcased the band’s considerable potential. Towards the end of the set, three of the guitarists headed into the crowd, creating their own mosh pit and whipping the audience into a frenzy.

As a regular at Loverocks—my first festival was the second edition back in 2018—I’ve watched the event grow from strength to strength. Capacity has steadily increased without losing the intimate, family-friendly atmosphere that makes it so special, while the facilities continue to improve each year.

The choice of food vendors now caters for just about everyone, with six different options available, alongside a dedicated coffee stall, a well-stocked bar and a real ale tent. Unlike some of the larger corporate festivals, where the ticket holders can sometimes feel like an afterthought, Loverocks has never lost sight of what matters most: its community. Speak to virtually anyone who attends and you’ll struggle to hear a bad word said about it. If you’ve never been before and you enjoy discovering quality grassroots rock bands, make sure you get your tickets for next year.

Greyfox Conspiracy 1–2–3–4–5

Greyfox Conspiracy are like a fine whisky—they’ve aged exceptionally well. The South Wales men in black are seasoned performers who know exactly how to entertain a festival audience. Their blues-infused riffs and classic Southern rock influences make for a no-nonsense set full of honest rock ‘n’ roll delivered with effortless charm.

Tracks such as Freight Train, their latest single Going Down Swinging (does this have anything to do with pampas grass in your front garden?) and Crazy Horse, with its unmistakable nod to Neil Young, kept the crowd thoroughly entertained. The theatrics arrived during Preacher Man, when vocalist Rob Cooksley, better known as Greyfox Growl, donned a preacher’s dog collar and appeared clutching a Bible complete with a cleverly concealed hip flask.

Cry For Mercy 1–2–3–4

Next up were Cry For Mercy, featuring Kev Plant (vocals/bass), Andy Cutty (guitar) and Aled Plant (drums). Returning after last year’s appearance, the trio had the task of maintaining the day’s momentum despite the soaring Dorset temperatures.

It proved no problem whatsoever. Their classic rock, infused with a healthy dose of blues, had the crowd fully engaged. The chemistry between the three musicians is a joy to watch and their musicianship speaks for itself.

Silver Roller followed, looking as though they’d stepped straight out of the 1970s. Frontman Jonnie Hodson somehow appeared to have borrowed Sweet’s Brian Connolly’s hair, complete with flared trousers and a brightly coloured dagger-collared shirt, while the rest of the band were equally committed to the retro aesthetic.

Silverroller 1–2–3–4–5–6

Their vintage guitar tones and Hammond organ combined to produce a sound reminiscent of the Small Faces, Led Zeppelin and other greats of the era, while still feeling distinctly their own. The sublime instrumentation on Into the Light and Silver Sun showcased a band completely in sync, and that chemistry radiated throughout the audience.

Another new discovery for me was Puzzle Tree, another excellent band from the fertile South Wales rock scene. The five-piece, fronted by Rachel Thomas, blend alternative rock with progressive influences to create something both powerful and melodic.

Puzzle Tree 1–2–3–4–5

Rachel is a superb frontwoman whose impressive vocals are complemented brilliantly by the rest of the band. Sitting in the afternoon sunshine watching this performance felt like one of those moments you know you’ll look back on fondly. By next week, when most of us are back at work, we’ll all be wishing we were back here reliving it. The band treated us to their debut single Fearless, alongside On Fire and my personal favourite, Falling Forever.

Another thing that sets Loverocks apart is how accessible the bands are. After every set they head straight to the merch tent, happily chatting with fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs. Many spend the entire weekend at the festival, making it easy to spend time with them away from the stage. Even Timmy, the famous Loverocks hound, managed to meet almost every band over the weekend. It’s all part of what makes this festival feel so unique… especially when the Scots and Australians get involved!

Next up was Jack J Hutchinson, an artist I’ve admired for some time (despite him being a Manchester United fan). A festival favourite, he was greeted by a group of supporters wearing Arsenal shirts and waving a Premier League winners’ flag. The chief instigator of the friendly banter? Jack’s own merch man, Johnny Deller.

Jack J Hutchinson 1–2–3–4–5

Thankfully, Jack wasn’t remotely fazed by the football shenanigans and remained firmly focused on delivering another excellent performance. Joined by Greg Smith on bass and Phil Wilson on drums, the trio treated us to older favourites including Deal With The Devil and the deeply emotional I Will Follow, written about Jack’s father, who suffered with dementia. With his forthcoming album Soul Believer on the horizon, we were also treated to the title track, which received an enthusiastic Loverocks seal of approval.

There must be a fascinating story behind how Australian band Sisters Doll ended up playing a campsite in Ferndown. Hopefully one day Jim Love will tell it in his rock memoirs. Hailing from Collie, a small mining town around 200 kilometres south of Perth in Western Australia, Sisters Doll completely stole the weekend. They were another new discovery for me but certainly won’t be the last. Imagine Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Cinderella, Bon Jovi and Poison all rolled into one—with Australian accents and boundless youthful energy.

Sisters Doll 1–2–3–4–5–6

From the moment they walked on stage they commanded complete attention, pulling the biggest crowd of the weekend and becoming the festival’s biggest talking point. Blistering guitar work, inventive rhythms and undeniable rock ‘n’ roll swagger ensured they owned the stage from start to finish. Highlights included Climbing Out Of Hell, Dancing With The Devil and even an instrumental burst of Kiss’s Detroit Rock City. It was an absolutely stunning performance that everyone fortunate enough to witness will remember for a very long time.

The second part of the Northern Irish contingent came in the shape of Trucker Diablo, who had the unenviable task of following Sisters Doll. Fortunately, they had more than enough quality to keep the momentum rolling. Opening with Kill The Lights, an instant crowd-rousing anthem, they followed with World On Fire before launching into Rock Kids Of The 80s, a glorious celebration of one of rock music’s greatest eras that resonated with much of tonight’s audience.

Trucker Diablo 1–2–3–4–5

Frontman Tom Harte led the quartet through a relentless stream of original songs before a rocked-up version of John Farnham’s The Voice sparked one of the weekend’s biggest singalongs. Trucker Diablo proved themselves to be one of the standout live bands of the festival.

Finally came one of Jim Love’s dream bookings. After several attempts to bring them to St Leonards Farm, this year he finally succeeded. Watching Jim watching the band, you could only imagine the smile on his face. Having never seen them before, I now completely understand why they were so high on his wish list.

Robert Jon And The Wreck 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

The American blues-rock outfit from Orange County, Florida, delivered a masterclass in musicianship, drawing inspiration from some of the genre’s greatest names while forging a distinctive sound of their own. Their musicianship and vocal performances were simply outstanding, making it abundantly clear why they had been chosen to

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